Charlotte Ballet
Website: https://charlotteballet.org/
Facebook: Charlotte Ballet
Instagram: @cltballet
Twitter: @cltballet
KEY PERSONNEL
Director of Education and Community Engagement: Bianca Bonner
Email: bbonner@charlotteballet.org
ABOUT: Charlotte Ballet’s mission is to provide artistically excellent programming to diverse audiences in its home city of Charlotte, the Southeast region, and to the varied communities it serves while on tour across the nation. Charlotte Ballet has received critical recognition nationally for excellence in programming, education, outreach, and dance training.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Reach
Charlotte Ballet’s need-based program, Reach, is a three-year scholarship dance program that makes beginning level, quality dance training accessible to students who demonstrate a natural talent for movement and the potential to be trained in dance. The program affords children the opportunity to access quality dance training in their neighborhoods free of charge, promoting self-esteem, discipline, a strong work ethic, and an appreciation for the arts.
Free Classes
Thanks to a grant from the ASC, the Charlotte Ballet offers free dance instruction at several recreation centers in the Charlotte community.
Adult Programs
Community dance classes for Senior Adults are a great introduction to dance and may be tailored to the needs and interest of your group. Workshops may be held in recreation centers, libraries, churches, or any space where a community of people can gather.
Dance for Parkinson’s Disease
Dance for Parkinson’s Disease is a class designed for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. Modeled after the Dance for PD® program developed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, this class is built on one fundamental premise: professionally-trained dancers are movement experts whose knowledge is useful to the Parkinson’s Disease Community. This dance class is appropriate for anyone with PD, no matter how advanced. No dance experience is required. In chairs, at a barre or standing, participants will explore elements of modern dance, ballet, tap, folk, and social dancing. The class uses choreographic repertory in a stimulating, non-pressured, and social environment, with live music to energize, enrich, and empower.
Sensory-friendly performances
Charlotte Ballet is thrilled to offer sensory-friendly performances to children, families, and adults in our community. Together with Allegro Foundation, a Champion for Children with Disabilities, Autism Speaks, Autism Charlotte, and InReach, Charlotte Ballet has re-worked Nutcracker and our spring storybook into sensory-friendly performances to provide a more comfortable, inviting and safe environment to enjoy ballet.
Senior Dress Rehearsal
Senior adults are invited to view a fully costumed working dress rehearsal of select dance productions on weekday afternoons at a discounted price. The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department partners with the Charlotte Ballet to promote the program and provide transportation to and from the theater.
MEDIA COVERAGE
The Art of the Pivot: This Dancer’s Push for a More Inclusive Ballet World - The Block
Charlotte Ballet celebrates 10 years of putting dance within reach for local families - The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Ballet ‘bear hunt’ video lets kids at home stay on the move amid coronavirus - The Charlotte Observer
